Device for selecting objects, particularly coins

ABSTRACT

A selector device for selecting objects (1) inserted by way of payment into a dispenser of goods or services via an insertion orifice (10), the device comprising a transport member (100) provided with a housing (110) designed to receive the objects singly and suitable for bringing an object (1) placed in said housing (110) into a measurement zone (ZM) where sensors (301, 302, 303) are disposed for verifying conformity of the object (1). According to the invention, the selector device also comprises drive mechanisms (200, 210) suitable for imparting a non-reversible continuous movement to said transport member (100) along a path during which the housing (110) passes from an initial position (P1) of communication with the insertion orifice (10) to a final or waiting position (P2), while passing through the measurement zone (ZM) in continuous manner, the sensors (301, 302, 303) for verifying conformity receiving sampling signals sampling the movement of the transport member (100). Applicable to dispensing services such as tickets for travel or parking purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for selecting objects insertedfor payment purposes into a dispenser of goods or services.

A particularly advantageous application of the invention lies in thefield of dispensing services, such as tickets for travel or for vehicleparking.

A dispenser of goods or services in exchange for payment in coin isknown, e.g. from American U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,393,891 and 5,404,986, inwhich coins are inserted one by one through an insertion orifice,generally in the form of a slot. The coins inserted into the dispenserin this way are received by a selector device mainly constituted by acircularly shaped transport member suitable for being rotated about itsaxis which extends horizontally. In said transport member, there isprovided a housing corresponding substantially to a sector of a circle,in which the coins are received one by one after being inserted into thedispenser, said housing having previously been put into communicationwith the insertion orifice.

By rotating about its axis, the transport member brings the coin that isto be found in the housing to a measurement zone where variousoperations are performed to verify conformity, in particular thediameter of the coin is determined by measuring the time it takes tomove past an optical sensor, and the metal from which the coin is madeis analyzed by a magnetic measurement performed statically, with thetransport member being stopped in the field of an electromagneticdetector.

Then, from said stop position, the transport member can turn either in afirst direction of rotation to direct the coin to a pre-encashment blockif the coin is recognized as being in conformity, or else, otherwise, ina second direction of rotation, opposite to the first, towards an outletfor returning the coin.

That selector device known in the state of the art nevertheless suffersfrom the drawback of requiring the movement of the transport member tobe stopped in order to analyze the metal of the coin present in thehousing, and that slows down the coin processing system.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is topropose a selector device for selecting objects inserted by way ofpayment into a dispenser of goods via an insertion orifice, said devicecomprising a transport member provided with a housing designed toreceive said objects singly and suitable for bringing an object placedin said housing into a measurement zone where means are disposed forverifying conformity of said object, which selector device makes itpossible to accelerate the operations of verifying conformity so as toreduce the length of time objects are present in the measurement zoneand thus reduce the time interval between two successive objects beinginserted by the user into the dispenser.

According to the present invention, the solution to the technicalproblem consists in that said selector device also comprises drive meanssuitable for imparting a non-reversible continuous movement to saidtransport member along a path during which said housing passes from aninitial position of communication with said insertion orifice to a finalor waiting position, passing through said measurement zone in continuousmanner, said means for verifying conformity receiving sampling signalssampling the movement of the transport member.

Thus, as explained in detail below, it is possible for the metalconstituting the coin to be analyzed, for example, without requiring apause in the measurement zone, with this being a consequence of the factthat it is possible to establish indicative parameters specific to themetal used from measurements taken at accurately reproducible positionsof the coin in the measurement zone, which positions are provided by thesampling signals.

It is in this sense that the invention provides for said means forverifying conformity to comprise means for magnetically analyzing thematerial of said objects, suitable for expressing said analysis in termsof characteristic values of a curve representative of the magneticsignature of said objects, said characteristic values being sampled bymeans of said sampling signals.

According to an advantageous disposition of the invention, said meansfor verifying conformity comprise means for geometrically measuring saidobjects, suitable for expressing said measurements in terms of numbersof steps in the sampling signals, independently of the speed of thetransport member. The term "geometrical measurements" covers, forexample, measurements of diameter and of thickness which are twoparameters enabling conformity of coins to be verified.

The geometrical measurements performed by the selector device of theinvention are thus performed dynamically, as is the diameter measurementdescribed in the above-mentioned American patents. Nevertheless, itshould be observed that in the prior art selector device, diameter isdetermined by measuring the time taken for the object to go past andoptical sensor, with the result depending on the speed of rotation ofthe transport member. In contrast, in the present invention, themeasurement is performed as a function of the position of the object tobe recognized, which position is known very accurately because the drivemeans samples the movement of the transport member. The measurement isthus independent of the speed of said transport member, thus avoidingany need to control said speed very accurately, and making it possiblefor measurement to be unaffected by external disturbances that may beapplied to the transport member, such as:

an attempt by the user to insert a second object while measurements arebeing performed on the previously inserted object; and

a deliberate attempt at fraud by braking the transport member whilemeasurements are being taken for the purpose of disturbing them.

According to another characteristic of the invention that isparticularly advantageous, provision is made for the path of the housingbetween the initial and final positions also to pass continuouslythrough a zone for accepting or rejecting objects, directing them eitherto an encashment outlet or to a return outlet following after themeasurement zone. This constitutes a same-direction extension of thecontinuous movement of the transport member until the objects areaccepted or rejected following the operations of verifying conformity aspreviously performed in the measurement zone, whereas theabove-mentioned American patents require firstly a stop and secondlyswitching between two possible directions of rotation depending on theresult of the verification. It will thus be understood that since theinvention requires neither a stop nor a reversal of direction, thismakes it possible to further reduce the time between two successiveobjects being inserted into the dispenser.

In the specification below, the term "encashment" is used both fordirect encashment of objects in the money box of the dispenser, and forpre-encashment including intermediate storage of objects so that it ispossible for them to be returned in the event of the transaction beingcancelled by the user.

More particularly, said encashment and return outlets are disposed inseries facing the continuous movement of the transport member, an objectplaced in the housing being suitable, under the action of gravity, forpassing through the encashment outlet if the object has been recognizedas being in conformity on leaving the measurement zone, or for passingthrough the return outlet if the object is recognized as not being inconformity on leaving the measurement zone, a normally-open moving flapfor shutting the encashment outlet being brought into a closed position.

Finally, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the measurementzone is disposed on the path of the housing in such a manner that saidmeans for verifying conformity are implemented during the continuousmovement of the transport member starting from the housing's initial,communication position, and after said housing has ceased to be incommunication with the insertion orifice. This disposition makes itpossible to recognize objects inserted in the selector device of theinvention without the measurements as performed by the means forverifying conformity being affected by the external environment, whichis particularly important when using optical means that are sensitive tointerfering light which could pass through the insertion orifice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description given with reference to the accompanyingdrawings given as non-limiting examples, will make it well understoodwhat the invention consists in and how it can be implemented.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a selector device of the invention.

FIGS. 2a to 2e are side views of the FIG. 1 selector device for variouspositions of the housing in the transport member.

FIG. 3a is an end view of means for measuring the diameter of an objectinserted in the selector device of the invention.

FIG. 3b is a timing chart of the diameter measurement supplied by themeans of FIG. 3a.

FIG. 4a is an end view of means for measuring the thickness of an objectinserted in the selector device of the invention.

FIG. 4b is a timing chart of the thickness measurement provided by themeans of FIG. 4a.

FIG. 5a is an end view of means for analyzing the metal of an objectinserted in the selector device of the invention.

FIG. 5b is a timing chart of the metal analysis provided by the means ofFIG. 5a.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the FIG. 1 selector device.

FIG. 7 shows a variant embodiment of the transport member shown in FIGS.1 to 2e.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The selector device shown in perspective in FIG. 1 is designed to befitted to a dispenser of goods or services in which objects, such ascoins 1, are inserted by way of payment via an insertion orifice 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, said dispenser device comprises a transport member100 having the general shape of a wheel in which a housing 110 is formedto receive the coins 1 singly.

The transport wheel 100 is suitable for being rotated about its axis 101by drive means which, in the example of FIG. 1, are constituted by a DCmotor 200 and a transmission mechanism 210 including stepdown gearingcomprising two spur wheels 211, 212 coupled to a wormscrew co-operatingwith teeth (not shown) disposed on the periphery of the wheel 100. Thehelix of the wormscrew 213 is left-handed so as to urge the transportwheel 100 against the reference plane P during normal, clockwiserotation, thereby improving the measurement of the thickness of thecoins 1 which, as explained below, constitutes one of the operations forverifying conformity applied to objects inserted into the selectordevice.

The motor 200 used is a high efficiency motor to keep down electricityconsumption and a low-inertia motor to facilitate stopping the transportwheel 100 with good angular accuracy.

Under drive from the above-mentioned drive means, the transport wheel100 is caused to rotate continuously and non-reversibly in the clockwisedirection along a path during which the housing 110, starting from aninitial position P1 shown in FIG. 2a, is brought to a measurement zoneZM in which means 301, 302, 303 are disposed for verifying conformity ofthe coin 1. Then, after passing continuously through said measurementzone ZM, the housing 110 arrives, still in the same movement, at a finalposition P2 shown in FIG. 2e and explained below.

As can be seen in FIG. 2a, when the housing 110 is in its initialposition P1 it is in communication with the insertion orifice 10 so asto be able to receive a single inserted object 1.

Once an optical type detector 11 has recognized the object 1 as beingopaque, and thus capable of being a coin, the motor 200 is put intooperation so that the transport wheel 100 brings the coin 1 into themeasurement zone where the operations of verifying conformity, asdescribed below in detail with reference to FIGS. 3a to 5b, areperformed continuously.

The means used for establishing conformity of inserted coins 1, includea diameter-measuring device shown in FIG. 3a, which device isessentially formed by an infrared emitter/receiver pair 302, forexample. The measurement consists in recording the flux transmitted fromthe emitter to the receiver when the coin 1 goes past. As shown at (a)in FIG. 3b, the signal delivered by the receiver has a blanked-out timethat is directly proportional to the diameter of the coin 1, but thatalso depends on the speed of rotation of the transport wheel 100. Inorder to obtain a result that is independent of the speed of rotation,the signal (a) coming from the emitter/detector couple 302 is comparedwith a sampling signal (b) relating to the movement of the transportwheel 100. Said sampling signal preferably comes from the drive meansand not from the wheel itself, since given the stepdown ratio introducedby the transmission mechanism 210, it would be almost impossible inpractice to achieve an equivalent sampling frequency from the wheel thatis as high as that which can be obtained from the motor 200.

For this purpose, FIG. 1 shows a coder such as a coding wheel 300 havingslots 310 and an optical fork (not shown) is mounted on the shaft 214 ofthe motor 200. The wheel 300 is constrained to rotate with the motor 200and thus also with the rotation of the coding wheel 100. The samplingsignal (b) from the motor is constituted by a series of pulses, eachpulse corresponding to a slot in the code wheel passing through theoptical fork. Two consecutive pulses are spaced apart by a constantangular distance which corresponds, via the transmission mechanism 210,to a known angular pitch for rotation of the transport wheel 100. Toconvert to the linear pitch of advance of the coin 1, said angular pitchis multiplied by the distance of the detector couple 302 from the axis101 of the wheel 100. It then suffices to count the number n2 of stepsin the sampling signal (b) observed during the blanked-out time t2 toobtain an expression for the diameter as a number of steps,independently of the speed of rotation of the transport wheel 100.

The thickness e of the coin 1 is measured in analogous manner, as shownin FIGS. 4a and 4b. The coin 1 passes initially through theemitter/receiver couple 302 used for measuring its diameter, and thenthrough an identical second couple 303 placed on a slant, e.g. at anangle of 45°. The measured time t3 is the time between passing throughthe first couple 302 and passing through the second couple 303. It willbe observed that the thicker the coin 1, the shorter this time. The timet3 is then expressed in terms of the number n3 of linear sampling steps,giving L-e and thus e, L being known by construction.

Naturally, the sampling signals shown at (b) in FIG. 3b and at (c) inFIG. 4b could also be obtained by an encoder constrained to move withthe transport wheel 100 itself. Such a device shall make it possible touse the measured movement of the wheel 100 directly as a reference. Inthis way, the diameter and thickness measurements are made independentof any possible variations in the speed of rotation of the wheel,whether arising from the drive system or from external disturbances, forexample faulty gearing, inexact spacing, motor quality, or braking ofthe transport wheel 100. By way of example, said encoder is implementedby associating slots (not shown) formed at the circumference of thewheel with an optical sensor fork (not shown), in the same manner as thecode wheel 300 having slots 310 in FIG. 1.

The metal constituting the coin 1 is analyzed as follows. As shown inFIGS. 5a and 5b, the coin 1 driven in the housing passes through amagnetic field induced by a first coil 311 of a magnetic cell 301, andfed with an AC signal of fixed level and frequency. A measurement isperformed on a second or receiver coil 321 placed facing the first ortransmitter coil 311. It is thus possible to assess at the receiver coil321 the disturbance to the magnetic field caused by the coin 1 passingthrough, said disturbance being characteristic of the metal of the coil.A sampled curve is thus obtained over time by means of the code wheel300, each sample E1, . . . , E8 corresponding, for example, to a preciseposition of the coin 1 in the magnetic cell 301.

In order to characterize coins better, and as can be seen in FIG. 5b,the transmission frequency F can be changed at the instant when the coin1 has passed halfway through the cell 301, e.g. by switching from F to4F. This transition appears in FIG. 5b between sample E4 and E5.

From the response curve of FIG. 5b, which constitutes a kind of curverepresentative of the magnetic signature of coins, it is possible toexpress the analysis of the metal in terms of characteristic valuestaken from the curve.

These characteristic values can be of several types:

Attenuation type: this consists in identifying the sample at which themagnetic signal has been subjected to a drop of x%. In FIG. 5b, pointsE1, E2, E3 on one side and E8, E7, E6 on the other side are samples atwhich the signal is attenuated by 25%, 50%, and 75% respectively on thefalling flank and on the rising flank of the signal.

Ratio type: this consists in taking the ratio of pairs of typical valuesfor the magnetic signal. By way of example, in FIG. 5, the followingratios can be used:

ratio 1=Vmin1/Vrest

ratio 2=Vmin2/Vrest

ratio 3=Vmin1/Vmin2.

Overall signature type: this consists in characterizing the curve as awhole by means of a single value, e.g. the integral of the entire curve(area beneath the curve).

The accuracy, and above all the reproducibility of these measurements,and in particular the thickness measurement, require the object whoseconformity is being verified always to be presented in the same positionrelative to the pairs of optical sensors and to the magnetic cell. Forthis purpose, various dispositions can be taken.

As shown in FIG. 6, provision can be made for the transport wheel 100 topress against the reference plane P, which plane is inclined at an angleα of 10°, for example, relative to the vertical V. The object placed inthe housing is thus held by its own weight against said reference planeat least while passing through the measurement zone ZM.

Also, as mentioned above, the pitch of the wormscrew 213 is handed sothat friction against the teeth of the wheel 100 causes the wheel to bepressed against the reference plane P.

Finally, it is advantageous for the housing 110 to have edges 111 and112 that come into contact with the object 1 (as shown in FIG. 1) thatare of an inclined profile suitable for encouraging the holding of saidobject against the reference plane P, as can be seen in FIG. 6 for theedge 111.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 2c, at the outlet from themeasurement zone ZM where the object 1 has been recognized as inconformity or not, the transport wheel 100 continues to rotate withoutinterruption so that the path of the housing 110 also passes incontinuous manner through a zone ZO where objects are accepted orrejected by being put through an encashment outlet 401 or a returnoutlet 402, the accept or reject zone ZO naturally being after themeasurement zone ZM.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2c, 2d, and 2e, the encashment andreturn outlets 401 and 402 are disposed in series relative to thecontinuous movement of the transport wheel 100. The encashment outlet401 may be closed by a moving flap 400 situated at the periphery of thewheel. By way of example, said flap 400 is moved in translation parallelto the axis of rotation 101 of the wheel 100, with the stroke of theflap then being slightly greater than the thickness of the housing 110formed in the wheel. For thicknesses that are small compared with theother dimensions, the resulting stroke is very small and thereforeenables very fast translation to be performed between the open positionand the closed position.

The flap 400 under the control of an electromagnet (not shown) isnormally in its open position and it is moved into the closed positiononly if the object 1 is recognized as not being in conformity on leavingthe measurement zone ZM.

Thus, in the accept or reject zone ZO, the object 1 is liable, under theeffect of gravity, to pass through the encashment outlet 401 assumingthe object has been recognized as being in conformity.

In contrast, if it has not been recognized as being in conformity, theobject 1 cannot pass through the encashment outlet 401 because themoving flap 400 will previously have been put into the closed position.As the movement of the transport wheel 100 continues, the object 1 isthen taken to the return outlet 402 which remains permanently open. Theposition of the housing 101 shown in FIG. 2e and corresponding to saidhousing being put into communication with the return outlet 402constitutes the final or waiting position P2. It is in this position P2that the continuous movement of the transport wheel 100 is interrupted,waiting for a new object to be inserted into the selector device.

This waiting position P2 serves as a reference for the movement of thetransport wheel 100. For this purpose, a slot (not shown) is formed inthe rim of the wheel, and when it comes into coincidence with an opticalfork (not shown), it provides a reference signal. This signal inassociation with the sampling signals makes it possible at all times toknow the exact position of the wheel 100.

When a metal object is engaged in the insertion orifice 10, a magneticpresence sensor controls the motor 200 to bring the housing 110 from thewaiting position P2 to the initial position P1 where it is incommunication with the insertion orifice 10 so as to restart the cycledescribed above.

In FIG. 2e, it will be observed that to provide protection against actsof vandalism, when the housing 110 is in the waiting position P2, thetransport wheel 100 completely closes the insertion orifice 10, sincethe width of the orifice is smaller than that of the wheel rim.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 2b, and to avoid external disturbances, themeasurement zone ZM is disposed on the path of the housing 110 so thatthe means 301, 302, 303 for identifying conformity can be put intooperation with a passing object 1 only after the housing 110 has ceasedto be in communication with the insertion orifice 10. This serves inparticular to avoid interfering light having any influence on theoptical measurements.

The housing 110 shown in FIGS. 1 to 2e includes two rectilinear contactedges 111 and 112. Nevertheless, as shown in FIG. 7, it can beadvantageous, given that the objects 1 and 1' such as coins, haverespective centers, for the edges 111 and 112 to be shaped in such amanner that the centers of said objects lie on a common circle C that isconcentric with the transport wheel 100, and regardless of the diameterand the thickness of any particular object 1, 1'. The circle Cpreferably passes at least through the means 301 and 302 for takinggeometrical measurements of the objects, concerning diameter andthickness, thus making it possible to obtain measurements that areabsolute and independent of the size of a particular object. The opticalradius of the emitter/receiver couples 302, 303 always follows the samecircular arc on an object, which arc is directly represented by thediameter and thickness measurements. The rounded shape of the housing110 eliminates any interdependence between the diameter measurement andthe thickness measurement.

I claim:
 1. A selector for selecting objects (1) inserted by way ofpayment into a dispenser of goods or services via an insertion orifice(10), said device comprising a transport member (100) provided with ahousing (110) designed to receive said objects singly and suitable forbringing an object (1) placed in said housing (110) into a measurementzone (ZM) where means (301, 302, 303) are disposed for verifyingconformity of said object (1), characterized in that:said selectordevice also comprises drive means (200, 210) suitable for imparting anon-reversible continuous movement to said transport member (100) alonga path during which said housing (110) passes from an initial position(P1) of communication with said insertion orifice (10) to a final orwaiting position (P2), while passing through said measurement zone (ZM)in continuous manner, said means (301, 302, 303) for verifyingconformity receiving sampling signals sampling the movement of thetransport member (100); and said means for verifying conformity comprisemeans (301) for magnetically analyzing the material of said objects (1),suitable for expressing said analysis in terms of characteristic valuesof a curve representative of the magnetic signature of said objects,said characteristic values being sampled by means of said samplingsignals.
 2. A selector device according to claim 1, characterized inthat said means for verifying conformity comprise means (302, 303) forgeometrically measuring said objects, suitable for expressing saidmeasurements in terms of numbers (n2, n3) of steps in the samplingsignals, independently of the speed of the transport member (100).
 3. Aselector device according claim 1, characterized in that said means fordriving the transport member (100) include a motor (200) and atransmission mechanism (210), said sampling signals being delivered byan encoder (300) constrained to rotate with the shaft (214) of saidmotor (200).
 4. A selector device according to claim 3, characterized inthat said coder is a code wheel (300) mounted on the shaft (214) of thedrive motor (200).
 5. A selector device according to claim 1,characterized in that said means for driving the transport member (100)include a transmission mechanism (210), said sampling signals beingdelivered by an encoder constrained to move with said transport member(100).
 6. A selector device according to claim 3, characterized in thatwith said transport member (100) being in the form of a wheel, saidtransmission mechanism (210) comprises a wormscrew (213) coupled to theshaft (214) of the drive motor (200) and co-operating with teeth formedat the periphery of the wheel (100).
 7. A selector device according toclaim 6, characterized in that the transport wheel (100) presses againsta reference plane (P) that is inclined relative to the vertical (V). 8.A selector device according to claim 7, characterized in that thehousing (110) includes at least one edge (111, 112) for contacting saidobject (1) and having a sloping profile suitable for holding the object(1) against the reference plane (P).
 9. A selector device according toclaim 1, characterized in that the measurement zone (ZM) is disposed onthe path of the housing (110) in such a manner that said means (301,302, 303) for verifying conformity are implemented during the continuousmovement of the transport member (100) starting from the housing'sinitial, communication position (P1), and after said housing (110) hasceased to be in communication with the insertion orifice (10).
 10. Aselector device for selecting objects (1) inserted by way of paymentinto a dispenser of goods or services via an insertion orifice (10),said device comprising a transport member (100) provided with a housing(110) designed to receive said objects singly and suitable for bringingan object (1) placed in said housing (110) into a measurement zone (ZM)where means (301, 302, 303) are disposed for verifying conformity ofsaid object (1), characterized in that:said selector device alsocomprises drive means (200, 210) suitable for imparting a non-reversiblecontinuous movement to said transport member (100) along a oath duringwhich said housing (110) passes from an initial position (P1) ofcommunication with said insertion orifice (10) to a final or waitingposition (P2), while passing through said measurement zone (ZM) incontinuous manner, said means (301, 302, 303) for verifying conformityreceiving sampling signals sampling the movement of the transport member(100); said means for driving the transport member (100) include a motor(200) and a transmission mechanism (210), said sampling signals beingdelivered by an encoder (300) constrained to rotate with a shaft (214)of said motor (200); with said transport member (100) being in the formof a wheel, said transmission mechanism (210) comprises a wormscrew(213) coupled to the shaft (214) of the drive motor (200) andco-operating with teeth formed at the periphery of the wheel (100); thetransport wheel (100) presses against a reference plane (P) that isinclined relative to the vertical (V); and the handedness of thewormscrew (213) is such that because of friction against said teeth, thetransport wheel (100) is pressed against said reference plane (P).
 11. Aselector device for selecting objects (1) inserted by way of paymentinto a dispenser of goods or services via an insertion orifice (10),said device comprising a transport member (100) provided with a housing(110) designed to receive said objects singly and suitable for bringingan object (1) placed in said housing (110) into a measurement zone (ZM)where means (301, 302, 303) are disposed for verifying conformity ofsaid object (1), characterized in that:said selector device alsocomprises drive means (200, 210) suitable for imparting a non-reversiblecontinuous movement to said transport member (100) along a path duringwhich said housing (110) passes from an initial position (P1) ofcommunication with said insertion orifice (10) to a final or waitingposition (P2), while passing through said measurement zone (ZM) incontinuous manner, said means (301, 302, 303) for verifying conformityreceiving sampling signals sampling the movement of the transport member(100); and the path of the housing (110) between said initial and finalpositions (P1, P2) also passes continuously through a zone (ZO) foraccepting or rejecting objects (1) directing them either to anencashment outlet (401) or to a return outlet (402) following after themeasurement zone (ZM).
 12. A selector device according to claim 11,characterized in that said encashment and return outlets (401, 402) aredisposed in series facing the continuous movement of the transportmember (100), an object (1) placed in the housing (110) being suitable,under the action of gravity, for passing through the encashment outlet(401) if the object has been recognized as being in conformity onleaving the measurement zone (ZM) or for passing through the returnoutlet (402) if the object is recognized as not being in conformity onleaving the measurement zone (ZM), a normally-open moving flap (400) forshutting the encashment outlet (401) being brought into a closedposition.
 13. A selector device according to claim 11, characterized inthat said means for verifying conformity comprise means (302, 303) forgeometrically measuring said objects, suitable for expressing saidmeasurements in terms of numbers (n2, n3) of steps of the samplingsignals, independently of the speed of the transport member (100).
 14. Aselector device according to claim 11, characterized in that said meansfor verifying conformity comprise means (301) for magnetically analyzingthe material of said objects (1), suitable for expressing said analysisin terms of characteristic values of a curve representative of themagnetic signature of said objects, said characteristic values beingsampled by means of said sampling signals.
 15. A selector deviceaccording to claim 11, characterized in that said means for driving thetransport member (100) include a motor (200) and a transmissionmechanism (210), said sampling signals being delivered by an encoder(300) constrained to rotate with the shaft (214) of the drive motor(200).
 16. A selector device according to claim 11, characterized inthat said means for driving the transport member (100) include atransmission mechanism (210), said sampling signals being delivered byan encoder constrained to move with said transport member (100).
 17. Aselector device according to claim 15, characterized in that saidtransport member (100) being in the form of a wheel, said transmissionmechanism (210) comprises a wormscrew (213) coupled to the shaft (214)of the drive motor (200) and co-operating with teeth formed at theperiphery of the wheel (100).
 18. A selector device according to claim17, characterized in that said transport wheel (100) presses against areference plane (P) that is inclined relative to the vertical (V).
 19. Aselector device according to claim 18, characterized in that thehandedness of the wormscrew (213) is such that because of frictionagainst said teeth, the transport wheel (100) is pressed against saidreference plane (P).
 20. A selector device according to claim 18,characterized in that the housing (110) includes at least one edge (111,112) for contacting said object (1) and having a sloping profilesuitable for holding the object (1) against the reference plane (P). 21.A selector device according to claim 11, characterized in that when thehousing (110) is in the final, waiting position (P2), the transportmember (100) completely closes the insertion orifice (10).
 22. Aselector device according to claim 11, characterized in that themeasurement zone (ZM) is disposed on the path of the housing (110) insuch a manner that said means (301, 302, 303) for verifying conformityare implemented during the continuous movement of the transport member(100) starting from the housing's initial, communication position (P1),and after said housing (110) has ceased to be in communication with theinsertion orifice (10).
 23. A selector device according to claim 11,characterized in that each of the objects (1, 1') has a center, saidcontact edges (111, 112) of the housing (100) being of a shape such thatthe centers of said objects lie on a common circle (C) concentric withthe transport wheel (100).
 24. A selector device according to claim 23,characterized in that said circle (C) passes at least through the means(301, 302) for geometrically measuring the objects (1, 1').
 25. Aselector device for selecting objects (1) inserted by way of paymentinto a dispenser of goods or services via an insertion orifice (10),said device comprising a transport member (100) provided with a housing(110) designed to receive said objects singly and suitable for bringingan object (1) placed in said housing (110) into a measurement zone (ZM)where means (301, 302, 303) are disposed for verifying conformity ofsaid object (1), characterized in that:said selector device alsocomprises drive means (200, 210) suitable for imparting a non-reversiblecontinuous movement to said transport member (100) along a path duringwhich said housing (110) passes from an initial position (P1) ofcommunication with said insertion orifice (10) to a final or waitingposition (P2), while passing through said measurement zone (ZM) incontinuous manner, said means (301, 302, 303) for verifying conformityreceiving sampling signals sampling the movement of the transport member(100); and when the housing (110) is in the final, waiting position(P2), the transport member (100) completely closes the insertion orifice(10).
 26. A selector device for selecting objects (1) inserted by way ofpayment into a dispenser of goods or services via an insertion orifice(10), said device comprising a transport member (100) provided with ahousing (110) designed to receive said objects singly and suitable forbringing an object (1) placed in said housing (110) into a measurementzone (ZM) where means (301, 302, 303) are disposed for verifyingconformity of said object (1), characterized in that:said selectordevice also comprises drive means (200, 210) suitable for imparting anon-reversible continuous movement to said transport member (100) alonga path during which said housing (110) passes from an initial position(P1) of communication with said insertion orifice (10) to a final orwaiting position (P2), while passing through said measurement zone (ZM)in continuous manner, said means (301, 302, 303) for verifyingconformity receiving sampling signals sampling the movement of thetransport member (100); said means for driving the transport member(100) include a motor (200) and a transmission mechanism (210), saidsampling signals being delivered by an encoder (300) constrained torotate with a shaft (214) of said motor (200); with said transportmember (100) being in the form of a wheel, said transmission mechanism(210) comprises a wormscrew (213) coupled to the shaft (214) of thedrive motor (200) and co-operating with teeth formed at the periphery ofthe wheel (100); the transport wheel (100) presses against a referenceplane (P) that is inclined relative to the vertical (V); the housing(110) includes at least one edge (111, 112) for contacting said object(1) and having a sloping profile suitable for holding the object (1)against the reference plane (P); and each of the objects (1, 1') has acenter, said contact edges (111, 112) of the housing (100) being of ashape such that the centers of said objects lie on a common circle (C)concentric with the transport wheel (100).
 27. A selector deviceaccording to claim 26, characterized in that said circle (C) passes atleast through the means (301, 302) for geometrically measuring theobjects (1, 1').